DISAPPOINTED WITH SQ A350 BUSINESS BED

[RooFlyer]

my wife, my 10mo son (with the infant seatbelt on) and I had a wonderful ~5hr sleep on our SIN to SYD flight in late Dec '17.
All 3 of us, our bub sleeping in the middle.

not sure what some people expect?!? it's obviously not going to be the same as one's bed at home

Obviously.

Some people like firmer beds and are quite OK with it. But, in the spectrum of airline J beds, SQ is out there in the firmness stakes.

As someone noted up-thread, firm beds are more the norm in Asia, although international hotels there, almost invariably offer softer beds. So maybe its not unreasonable for people flying J on Asian international airlines to expect least around 'average' when it comes to their beds.

I must say, as I've said in recent trip reports, I've gone from a huge fan of SQ J to now avoiding it when I can, due to the requirement to lie at an angle, with feet in a narrow cubby coupled with what I find the over-firm surface. Just leaves more space for you and family.

 

[travelislife]

my wife, my 10mo son (with the infant seatbelt on) and I had a wonderful ~5hr sleep on our SIN to SYD flight in late Dec '17.
All 3 of us, our bub sleeping in the middle.

not sure what some people expect?!? it's obviously not going to be the same as one's bed at home

Quick question. We are doing MEL-SIN-LHR later in the year with an infant. I was thinking of selecting seats across the aisles from each other so it would be easier to get up and help each other out where required as opposed to the pairs in the centre where you would have to walk through the galley. What do you think is better?

 

[daft009]

Quick question. We are doing MEL-SIN-LHR later in the year with an infant. I was thinking of selecting seats across the aisles from each other so it would be easier to get up and help each other out where required as opposed to the pairs in the centre where you would have to walk through the galley. What do you think is better?

if your bub is likely to fit in the bassinet then I would suggest do what you're thinking.
our's was at the limit (by height, not by weight) of the bassinet so didn't like it. was good that we had the middle two seats in the bulkhead.

even if you're in the middle two seats with the bassinet, its still pretty easy access to pass bub to each other. I don't think I went to the other side even once via the galley but it was SQ221 (the night flight).

depending on his/her age I would also suggest keeping a decent transit and perhaps book aerotel (transit hotel), gave our son a good chance to roll/crawl around so was more relaxed on the flight.
all the FA commented how well behaved he was for a 10mo and wanted to carry him

 

[daft009]

There are many available designs. SQ chose one that probably suits the Asian market, but is not as suited to a taller Western audience. The pitch in seated position is tight. There's a weird angle to sleep on the diagonal, and your feet are funneled in to a tiny cubby.

Apex suites or reverse herringbone... no such issues. Even 2-2-2 fully forward seating arrangements that lack privacy can have exceptionally generous pitch up to 80 inches.

So there are seats and there are seats. BA, SQ, UA (with their 2-4-2) went it alone and came up with mixed results.

If First class in general is akin to railway sleeping berths, and business on most carriers is about the equivalent of a couchette, SQ has given something like a horizontal hammock.

perhaps ignorance really is bliss as I haven't experienced any other J, other than SQ

Obviously.

Some people like firmer beds and are quite OK with it. But, in the spectrum of airline J beds, SQ is out there in the firmness stakes.

As someone noted up-thread, firm beds are more the norm in Asia, although international hotels there, almost invariably offer softer beds. So maybe its not unreasonable for people flying J on Asian international airlines to expect least around 'average' when it comes to their beds.

I must say, as I've said in recent trip reports, I've gone from a huge fan of SQ J to now avoiding it when I can, due to the requirement to lie at an angle, with feet in a narrow cubby coupled with what I find the over-firm surface. Just leaves more space for you and family.

yippee I'm 5ft 11in and I guess I like my beds firm

 

[boomy]

A350 J bulkhead is fantastic but all other seats are just not comfortable in bed mode.

Will be flying new A380 J soon, keen to test how good is the massively advertised double bed.

 

[travelislife]

if your bub is likely to fit in the bassinet then I would suggest do what you're thinking.
our's was at the limit (by height, not by weight) of the bassinet so didn't like it. was good that we had the middle two seats in the bulkhead.

even if you're in the middle two seats with the bassinet, its still pretty easy access to pass bub to each other. I don't think I went to the other side even once via the galley but it was SQ221 (the night flight).

depending on his/her age I would also suggest keeping a decent transit and perhaps book aerotel (transit hotel), gave our son a good chance to roll/crawl around so was more relaxed on the flight.
all the FA commented how well behaved he was for a 10mo and wanted to carry him

Thanks! She will only be 4 months, so definitely in the bassinet, hopefully sleeping soundly!

 

[trippin_the_rift]

All I want is a comfortable seat which I DONT NEED TO STAND UP TO PUT INTO BED MODE.

I like SQ, but not sure what they were thinking. It's almost as if - nobody over 180cm was in the test trials, and also as if, nobody who actual flys frequently had input to the style of seat SQ selected. Could have done a better job imo.

 

[k3nnis]

Is the new A380 J seat better than 77W J seat?
And how about old A380 J seat where does that fit in with the above 2?

 

[ozjuice]

I have 3 x SQ J flights booked this year all on the A350 BNE - SIN & Beyond on other aircraft. Hopefully i find it comfortable but i am a little concerned now. VA & Etihad J were both very good.

 

[firstclasser]

I have 3 x SQ J flights booked this year all on the A350 BNE - SIN & Beyond on other aircraft. Hopefully i find it comfortable but i am a little concerned now. VA & Etihad J were both very good.

First world problem hey

 

[carls888]

I don't mind the bed in the 350s. I am short though 5'2", but I agree it's a pain to have to move all my stuff and hop up to flip it over. That said, it beats flying Y!

 

[k3nnis]

How would you rank SQ J seats for SYD-SIN-SYD route: ? Is the below correct?

new A380
77W
old a380

 

[boomy]

How would you rank SQ J seats for SYD-SIN-SYD route: ? Is the below correct?

new A380
77W
old a380

Yes, New A380 > A350/B777 > Old A380

 

[laffer]

I found the room more than adequate. I agree about the firmness. It wasn't the best but still a good product.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks. So are all 77W for Sydney - SIN - SYD same J seats as A350?

 

[ozjuice]

Anyone know if the BNE - SIN Boeing 777-200 / 200ER is getting updated anytime soon?

 

[jbman]

Last media release I read said 3 out of 4 would be 350

 

[ansett7e7]

I can't say that my bed comfort experience on the A350 was any different to the A380...What I found weird was the lack of (cubby) storage space. Perhaps I'm used to sitting by a window where the curvature of the wall allows for a spacious bolthole with a lid (B747, A380 etc). The A350 walls are straighter and this can't happen. So I had to leave my glassess, phone - even my wallet -on the counter top...Anyone else had the same experience?

 

[ozjuice]

i just flew SQ A350 J and i found it actually pretty good. Not as Good as Etihad but was nice. Storage space was fine for me, there was maybe nowhere for a laptop but a small slide up cubby hole for all small items and hanging space for other things. Somewhere to put shoes was also good under the footwell. I guess it depends on personal requirements. Bed was a little hard after a while but ok for a plane. Easy to lift up or down.
I did have to engage with the guy beside me after 45 minutes of watching him try to use the TV screen via touch. I couldn't bare watching him suffer any longer.

 

[ross11]

Totally agree that the bed is very uncomfortable. Also the standard of service and amenities is not the SQ of old. Frankly its like the accountants have got hold of the airline and just slashed. Traveled to Scandinavian on Emirates via Dubai and returned on SQ via Moscow and Singapore to Perth.
Emirates were far better in every respect.

Whilst I do not feel there is nothing inherently wrong with SQ's soft product it is definitely lacklustre compared to the SQ of old. I too find EK's offering trumps SQ - especially since in general it seems SQ still command a premium in terms of fares!